Legacy // H.S

4.

'And I won't stop until I'm done'

*

Harry

Trafalgar square. 12:30pm.

That was all he told me. Claude has always had a flair for the dramatics, often finding ways to make the simplest of tasks complicated. He likes to turn everything into a riddle or a game. Though his instructions appear complete, it doesn't specify where in the square he'll meet us, or if it's actually him that will find us.

Claude Charlié has been a friend of mine since I was 18. Nearly ten years of my life spent with him as an ally, a confidante, and a mentor. He taught me everything I know and helped me become the man I am today. At my lowest point, he looked out for me, and I'll remain in his debt for the rest of my life as a result. It's not that he expects anything from me in return, either, I just value what he did for me and how much confidence he helped to grow. Before meeting him, I was a quiet boy dealing with the unsettling loss of a father that I never cared for. I like to think I've become a little stronger since then.

Trying to contact him, however close we are, is near impossible, though. That's what happens when you're one of the most sought-after thieves in the world.

It started in France first, small robberies of jewellery stores and places of grandeur. Then he started dipping his toes into other sources of money. Art, sculpture, clothing; everything that he could see others wanted, everything that he knew he could get. He dabbled in bank robberies a couple of times but never much enjoyed the complications that always came about with them, now focusing on art and jewels for the most part. England was the next place he focused his attention on, then Italy, Spain, Germany, Croatia – branching across Europe until he explored other continents. There isn't a journalist or crime agency in the world that doesn't know his name.

Or rather, his code name. The Queen's Champion. Ironically handed to him after it became apparent how easily he'd stolen several jewels from the Danish monarchy on more than one occasion. The Queen herself nicknamed him as such, finding some humour in the constant attacks from him, especially when he managed to steal some royal jewels from some English aristocratic families shortly after.

No one knows his real name, only those closest to him. Many of his associates and workers don't even know his identity, a mystery that he claims to help encourage them in their tasks. Like they're working for a higher power, a God or deity. But he never acts like a God. Once you're on his team, you're an equal. That's the most important lesson he taught me.

The moment we established we'd be going ahead with the heist, I knew he was the only person that could help. If we have his name attached to us, more people will readily join, ignoring the danger it may put them in so they can try their hand at impressing The Queen's Champion.

It's selfish, in a way, to lure people towards a potentially gruesome death if Hugo continues his tricks, but at least with Claude we'll have better security. He knows all the tricks, all the people you need to keep you out of harms way. He's our only hope. Even if we ignore the heist, throw our plans away and try to run, Hugo will find us. At least with Claude we have some protection, another set of eyes looking out for us.

Today will be the first time I've seen him in a few years, only managing to get random meetings with him since I left his side to create my own team. Usually, he is the one to contact first, never the other way around, but when you're in his circle there are ways around that. Perhaps only two people in this world have an address for him, but there are no phone numbers, not when he's the most wanted man in the world. Once I managed to get something sent to him, he reached out. Said he was in Cuba, and by the time he'd given me an answer he was already in the UK.